Lost phone will be detected by new technology
The government is going to launch a tracking system this week.
Through this system, people across the country will be able to ‘block’ or trace their lost or stolen mobile phones. A senior government official gave this information. Technology development body Center for Development of Telematics (CIDAT) is running the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) system on a pilot basis in some telecom circles including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka and the North East region. An official of the Department of Telecom said that now this system can be started at pan-India level.
The official said that the CEIR system will be introduced on a pan-India basis on May 17. When contacted, CIDAT CEO and Chairman Project Board Rajkumar Upadhyay did not confirm the date, but said the technology is ready to be rolled out on a pan-India basis.
Upadhyay said the system is ready and will now be deployed across India in this quarter. This will enable people to block and track their lost mobile phones. CIDAT has added new features to trace the use of cloned mobile phones on all telecom networks. Government has made it mandatory to disclose International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI-15 digit number) before sale of mobile devices in India.
Mobile networks will have a list of approved IMEI numbers to detect unauthorized mobile phone entry into their network. Telecom operators and the CEIR system will have information about the IMEI number of the device and the mobile number associated with it. In some states, this information will be used through CEIR to trace lost or stolen mobile phones.
